The government has decided to import an additional 5,000 tonnes of tur dal in the coming days. The import will be done through state-owned MMTC and has been taken in order to keep prices under control. MMTC has already tendered import of 5,000 tonnes each of tur and urad dal. The shipments will be reaching the country by September 5.
The retail consumers are currently paying beyond Rs 150 per kg for tur dal and other key lentils. The imported dals will be supplied to state governments at subsidized rates for further distribution to these consumers. Due to gap in domestic supply and demand the prices of pulses have shot up. The centre has taken several steps to increase availability and rein in prices.
There is tight supply of pulses in the country because of fall in domestic production to 17.38 million tonnes in 2014--15 crop year (July--June) from 19.25 million tonnes in the previous crop year due to poor monsoon.